US5511076A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus to efficiently reuse virtual connections by means of chaser packets
Assignee: Enterasys Networks Inc
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Filing: 1994-11-07
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Granted: 1996-04-23
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Expires: 2014-11-07
Abstract
Abstract A host system and an ATM network adapter using a chaser packet are presented. The adapter receives cells over a virtual connection on the network and generates, in response to the host system, a chaser packet which allows the host to detect that all data has been transferred form the adapter buffers to host memory. When all data has been transferred, the host may release the virtual connection without data loss. The host and adapter may also transmit data. In data transmission, the chaser packet is used to determine that all data has been transmitted out onto the network before the sending host releases the virtual connection. The chaser packet is also used for resynchronization of credits where the ATM network uses credit-based flow control. The adapter uses the chaser packet to drain the local queue so that the link between the adapter and a source system may be resynchronized.
Inventors
- 👤 Kadangode K. Ramakrishnan
- 👤 Peter J. Roman
- 👤 Michael Ben-Nun
- 👤 Simoni Ben-Michael
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 19:05
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/04; H04Q11/0428; H04Q11/0478; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/54; H04L12/56; H04L12/5601; H04L2012/5614; H04L2012/5616; H04L2012/5629; H04L2012/563; H04L2012/5631; H04L2012/5636; H04L2012/5638; H04L2012/5646; H04L2012/5652
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A system for closing virtual circuits, comprising: a host computer having a host CPU, and a host memory; and an adapter connected to said host computer, said adapter having means for receiving cells from a virtual connection on a network, means for assembling said received cells into packets, means for transferring said packets to said host memory responsive to packet completion, means, responsive to said host computer, for generating a chaser packet, means for enqueuing said chaser packet in said means for transferring packets, said chaser packet to be detected by said host computer whereby said host computer may close said virtual connection without loss of data.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
107 words
A system for closing virtual circuits, comprising: a host computer having a host CPU, and a host memory; and an adapter connected to said host computer, said adapter having means for receiving cells from a virtual connection on a network, means for assembling said received cells into packets, means for transferring said packets to said host memory responsive to packet completion, means, responsive to said host computer, for generating a chaser packet, means for enqueuing said chaser packet in said means for transferring packets, said chaser packet to be detected by said host computer whereby said host computer may close said virtual connection without loss of data.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system according to claim 1 further comprising a means for said adapter to generate an interrupt to said host computer in response to transferring said chaser packet to said host memory.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said means for generating a chaser packet comprises a command register and an adapter controller.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system according to claim 3 wherein said adapter controller is a state machine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
A system according to claim 3 wherein said adapter controller is a microprocessor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said means transferring said packets to said host memory comprises a plurality of packet queues, one of said plurality of packet queues transferring packets received over said virtual connection, said chaser packet enqueued by said means for enqueuing on said one of said plurality of packet queues.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
84 words
A system for closing virtual circuits, comprising: a host computer having a host CPU and a host memory; and, an adapter connected to said host computer, said adapter having means for transmitting cells over a virtual connection on a network, means, responsive to said host computer, for generating a chaser packet, and means for enqueuing said chaser packet in said means for transmitting cells such that said chaser packet is detected by said adapter when all cells have been transmitted over said virtual connection.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
84 words
A system for closing virtual circuits, comprising: a host computer having a host CPU and a host memory; and, an adapter connected to said host computer, said adapter having means for transmitting cells over a virtual connection on a network, means, responsive to said host computer, for generating a chaser packet, and means for enqueuing said chaser packet in said means for transmitting cells such that said chaser packet is detected by said adapter when all cells have been transmitted over said virtual connection.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system according to claim 7 further comprising: a means for said adapter to generate an interrupt to said host computer in response to detecting said chaser packet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system according to claim 7 wherein said adapter further comprises a flush table.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-04-23 | 1999-10-23 | 2000-04-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-04-23 | 2003-10-23 | 2004-04-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-04-23 | 2007-10-23 | 2008-04-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |